Belt wrapper



June 9, 1959 yv. o. JONES BELT wRAPPER Filed oct. 29. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Wolter O. Jones June 9, 1959 w, 0, JONES 2,890,003

K BELT WRAPPER Filed Oct. 29. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Wolter O. Jones Y i Unite States 1 890m Patented June 9, 1959 mitting recession thereof away'from the coiling axis due to pressure exerted by the growing coil. 2 890 003 I prefer to provide means for controlling the ow of compressed air to the `air cylinders so that the air cylin- BELT WRAPPER 5 der for the main belt guiding frame is operated in ad- Walter O. Jones, Warren, Ohio, assgnor to The Wean Engineering Company, Inc., Warren, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 29, 1954, Serial No. 465,555 3 IClaims. (Cl. 242-7 8.5)

This invention relates to belt wrappers and particularly to improvements in the construction of belt wrappers whereby improved operation and increased life of the belt wrappers are realized.

The invention is concerned with belt wrappers of the type comprising a support with a main belt guiding frame carried by the support for movement relatively to the support toward and away from a coiling axis and an auxiliary belt guiding frame carried by the main belt guiding frame for movement relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward and away from the coiling axis generally opposite the main belt guiding frame. Heretofore separate belts have been trained about belt guiding pulleys carried by the respective frames. This has resulted in di'iculty in starting the formation of coils as the leading end of a strip to be coiled has sometimes moved outwardly of the circumference of the incipient coil between the two belts. I obviate that disadvantage by employing a single belt trained about pulleys of both frames to continuously conine the leading end of the strip. I use the term single belt as a term of broad definition and not of limitation and to distinguish from separate non-parallel belts in a belt wrapper. The term single belt includes a plurality of side-by-side belts trained about the same pulleys.

I also provide for resilient operation of thefbelt guiding frames so that the belt wrapper is not damaged if the .operator does not retract the belt guiding frames in consonance with enlargement of the coil being formed in the belt Wrapper. I further provide control mechanism operable to move the main belt guiding frame into operiative position relatively to the coiling axis ahead of the auxiliary belt guiding frame and to release the auxiliary belt guiding frame for movement away from operative position ahead of the main belt guiding frame.

As above indicated certain of the advantages of my invention arise through the employment of a single belt trained about the pulleys of the main and auxiliary belt guiding frames. However, other advantages of the invention 'are obtained whether a single belt or a pair of belts is employed.

The auxiliary belt guiding frame is preferably pivoted to the main belt guiding frame for swinging movement relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward and away from the coiling axis generally opposite the main belt guiding frame, and means are preferably provided for swinging the auxiliary belt guiding frame toward the coiling axis. The main belt guiding frame is preferably pivoted to the support for movement to and from operative position relatively to the coiling axis. A belt tensioning device is preferably employed for maintaining the belt taut.

I preferably employ means operable to resiliently urge the main belt guiding frame relatively to the support toward the coiling axis and the auxiliary belt guiding frame relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward the coiling axis so that such means maintain the belt or belts operative with respect to a coil being formed while per- Vance` of the air cylinder for the auxiliary belt guiding frame whereby the main belt guiding frame is iirst brought into operative position relatively to the coiling axis after which the auxiliary belt guiding frame is brought into operative position relatively to the coiling axis. For operating the auxiliary belt guiding frame I preferably employ means including a pair of air cylinder arranged generally in [parallel adjacent opposite sides of the belt guiding frames.

In a preferred structure the connection to the air cylinder or cylinders for the auxiliary belt guiding frame includes a speed control valve retarding the flow of compressed air thereto so that the main belt guiding frame is rst brought into operative position relatively to the coiling axis after which the auxiliary belt guiding frame is brought into operatve position relatively to the coiling axis.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the laccompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of a belt wrapper in operative position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with diierent parts in vertical crosssection and ywith other parts cut away showing the belt wrapper in inoperative position;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the belt wrapper with portions cut away; and

Figures 4 and 5 are side and end views respectively of the compressed air connections for operating the belt wrapper.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a coiling axis is shown at A, which axis may be the axis of a coiling mandrel or reel M with which the belt wrapper co-operates. Mounted adjacent the coiling axis A upon a base 2 is la support designated generally byreference numeral 3. The support is adjustable along the base 2 toward and away from the coiling Iaxis A and f-astenable in desired adjusted positions by mechanism indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

The Isupport 3 is of curved overhung shape as shown in Figures 1 and 2, being provided at its top with transversely spaced apart aligned bearings 4 in which is journaled for rotation a shaft 5. The shaft 5 extends through one of the bearings 4 and has an arm 6 fastened thereto outside the bearing and projecting generally downwardly.

A bracket 7 is mounted upon the outside of the support 3 at the side of the support iat which the arm 6 is disposed. Pivotedto the bracket 7 by a pivot pin 8 is an air cylinder 9 within which operates a piston with which is connected a piston rod 10 extending out of the cylinder 9 through the upper head 11 thereof.

Pivoted to the outside of the support 3 generally above the cylinder 9 'at 12 is a lever 13. The lever 13 extends generally upwardly from its pivotal yconnection with the support at 12. The piston rod 10 has an enlarged upper extremity 14 which is pivoted to the lever 13 at 15. A link 16 is pivoted to the lever 13 at 17 and -to the arm 6 at 18.

Movement of the piston in the cylinder 9 causes turning of the lever 13 about the pivot 12 and such turning of the lever 13 causes through the link 16 and the arm 6 turning of the shaft 5.

rPhe shaft 5 intermediate the bearings 4 extends through and is keyed to bearings 19 at the top of a main belt guiding frame designated generally by reference numeral 20. The frame comprises opposed side members 21 each of which is connected with one of the bearings 19 and extends downwardly therefrom, the side members 21 being of sheet-like construction and being disposed in opposed generally parallel relationship as shown in Figure 3. The side members 21 are connected at the bottom by a tie rod 22 'which also serves as a pivotal connection between the main belt guiding frame 20 and the auxiliary belt guiding frame presently to be described. Belt guiding pulleys 23 and 24 are journaled in the frame 20 between the side members 21 as shown in Figure 3.

A rod 25 extends through the frame 20 and projects outwardly therefrom at both sides as shown in Figure 3. To each of the projecting ends of the rod 25 is pivoted an air cylinder 26, there being two air cylinders 26 in opposed generally parallel relationship which function simultaneously to cooperatively move the auxiliary belt guiding frame relatively to the main belt guiding frame. A piston operates in each of the cylinders 26 and a piston rod 27 is connected with each piston and extends out of the cylinder through one of the heads 28 thereof. Each piston rod 27 has a threaded outer end 29 to which is fastened in adjusted relationship to the piston rod 27 longitudinally thereof a connector 30 through which passes a rod 31. The rod 31 passes through both of the connectors 30 `and 'also through opposed side members 32 of the auxiliary belt guiding frame designated generally by reference numeral 33. The side members 32 are of sheet-like construction similarly to the side members 21 of the main belt guiding frame 20 and are disposed in opposed generally parallel relationship, the side members 32 being respectively substantially coplanar with the corresponding side members 21 of the frame 20. Each of the side members 32 is connected to a bracket 34 pivotally mounted on the rod 22. Thus the auxiliary frame 33 is pivotally connected at 22 with the main frame 20 and is adapted to be swung about the pivotal connection by operation of the pistons in the yair cylinders 26.

Belt guiding pulleys 35 and 36 are journaled in the frame 33 between the side members 32 similarly to the pulleys 23 and 24 of the main frame. A shoe 37 is mounted on the shaft for the pulley 36 to shield the belt as it passes around the pulley 36 from the incoming strip.

A single belt 38 is trained about the pulleys 23, 24, 35 and 36. The face of the belt which engages the strip being coiled is flat across; the opposite face which engages the pulleys 23, 24, 35 and 36 is formed with a longitudinal recess or channel 38a at its central portion receiving raised portions 38h at the centers of the rolls which guide the belt. A belt tensioning device designated generally by reference numeral 39 maintains the belt taut. The belt tensioning device 39 comprises generally parallel rods 40 each passing through a web 41 of the frame 20, the rods carrying below the web 41 bearings "42 in which a belt tensioning roller 43 is journaled. The belt 38 is trained about the belt tension- .ing roller 43. The outer ends of the rods 40 are threaded and ha've nuts 44 applied thereto, washers 45 underlying the nuts 44, and compression coil springs 46 surround the respective rods and resiliently press the washers and hence the rods generally outwardly or upwardly viewing Figure l to tend to draw the tensioning roller 43 upwardly and cause it to take up any slack which may tend to form in the belt 38. The ends of the shaft of the roller 43 are provided with slotted bearing 'blocks 47 which ride in parallel slots 48 in the side members 21 of the frame 20.

The compressed air connections for operating the belt wrapper have been omitted in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in order that the structure of the belt wrapper may be more clearly shown. The compressed air connections are shown in Figures 4 and 5. Compressed air is de- -4 livered through a pipe 49 to a four-way valve S0. Leading from the valve 50 are pipes 51 and 52. There is also yan exhaust outlet from the four-way valve 50 which is not shown. The four-way valve 50 may be operated to connect the pipe 49 with the pipe 52 while the pipe 51 is connected to exhaust and to connect the pipe 49 with the pipe 51 while the pipe 52 is connected to exhaust.

The pipe 51 is connected through a speed control valve 53 with a pipe 54 which is connected with the upper ond of the cylinder 9. Y The pipe 52 is connected through a pipe 55 with the lower end of the cylinder 9. The pipe 52 is also connected through a pipe 56 and a speed control valve 57 with a pipe 58 connected through a T 59 with pipes 60 which are connected with the lower ends of respective cylinders 26. The word pipe is used generically; some of the pipes are flexible conduits. The speed control valve 57 reta-rds the oW of compressed air therethrough toward the left but is free owing toward the right viewing Figure 4. The speed control valve 53 retards flow of compressed air therethrough towa-rd the right but is free owing toward the left viewing Figure 5.

A cycle of operations of the belt wrapper will now be described. When the belt wrapper is in inoperative position 4as shown in Figure 2 the pipe 49 through which compressed air is delivered is connected with the pipe 51 and the pipe 52 is connected to exhaust. The piston in the cylinder 9 is at the bottom of the cylinder and the main -belt guiding frame 20 is retracted toward the right to inoperative position as shown in Figure 2. The auxiliary belt guiding frame 33 hangs generally downwardly from its pivotal connection 22 with the frame 20 through the action of gravity. It will have been noted that there are pressure connections only to the lower ends of the cylinders 26, gravity being relied upon to move the auxiliary frame generally downwardly in countercloclcwise turning movement about the axis of the rod 22 viewing Figures l and 2 when the lower ends of cylinders 26 are connected to exhaust. The belt 38 is trained about the pulleys 23, 24, 35 and 36 as shown in Figure 2, being maintained taut by the belt tensioning ydevice 39.

When it is desired to move the lbelt wrapper to operative position about the coiling axis A the four-way valve 50 is operated so that compressed air under pressure from the pipe 49 passes to the pipe 52 and the pipe 51 is connected to exhaust. The piston in the cylinder 9 rises and the main frame 20 swings toward the left viewing Figures l and 2 in clockwise turning movement about the axis of the shaft 5 from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 1, the frame being prevented from striking the coiling mandrel with undesirably great force by the speed control Valve 53 which retards the outflow of air from the top of the cylinder 9. The inow of compressed air to the bottoms of the cylinders 26 is retarded by the speed control valve S7 so that the auxiliary frame 33 deos not swing up in clockwise turning movement about the axis of the rod 22 before the main frame 20 has reached or almost reached its operative position in relation to the coiling axis A. When the main frame has reached its operative position the auxiliary frame is moved up to the position of Figure l by the action of the pistons in the cylinders 26. The auxiliary frame is caused to act uniformly throughout its width by reason of the fact that the two opposed cylinders 26 are employed for moving it. The strip S to be coiled is introduced as shown in Figure 1 and passes about the coiling mandrel M which is driven in conventional manner in the clockwise direction viewing ,Figure 1 as indicated by the arrow. The coil is begun by introducing the leading end of the strip between the mandrel and the belt. The belt is driven by friction with the mandrel and strip. Since a single belt is used there is no opportunity for the leading end of the strip to move outwardly between two spaced belts and the formation of a uniform tight coil is assured.

As the diameter of the coil increases the main frame 20 is forced gradually toward the right viewing Figure 1 and at the same time the auxiliary frame 33 is progressively opened up relatively to the main frame. That action is accomplished by consonant movement of the pistons in the cylinders and compression of the air therein unless the operator vents the air. Thus the structure of the belt wrapper is such that the belt guiding frames are resiliently mounted and no damage is done even though the operator does not vent air from the cylinders as the belt wrapper is gradually opened up through increase in the diameter of the coil being formed.

When formation of the coil has been completed and it is desired to retract the belt wrapper to inoperative position the four-way valve 50 -is again operated to connect the pipe 52 to exhaust and connect the pipe 51 to pressure, resulting in releasing the auxiliary frame 33 so that it drops down as above described and retracting the main frame carrying the auxiliary frame with it to the inoperative position shown in Figure 2. This completes tlhe cycle.

While I have shown and `described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A belt wrapper for use in coiling strip comprising a mandrel having a fixed coiling axis, a support, a main belt guiding frame movable toward and away from said axis carried by the support and pivotally mounted thereon above a horizontal plane through the coiling axis for generally lhorizontal swinging movement relatively to the coiling axis, means for so moving the main belt guiding frame and yieldingly holding the frame in coiling position, an auxiliary belt guiding frame pivotally mounted on the main belt guiding frame below the coiling axis for movement relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward and away from the coiling axis generally opposite the main belt guiding frame, means for moving the auxiliary belt guiding frame toward the coiling axis, the frames carrying belt guiding pulleys, and belt means trained about the pulleys of :both frames, whereby building up of a coil on the mandrel will swing said frames against the force applied by said moving means.

2. A fbelt wrapper for use in coiling strip comprising a mandrel having a xed coiling axis, a support, a main belt guiding frame carried iby the support and pivotally mounted thereon away from the coiling axis for generally horizontal swinging movement relatively to the coiling axis, an auxiliary belt guiding frame carried by the main belt guiding frame and pivotally mounted thereon adjacent the opposite end of the main frame from rst said pivotal mounting for movement relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward and away from the coiling axis generally opposite the main belt guiding frame, the frames carrying lbelt guiding pulleys, belt means trained about the pulleys and means operable to resiliently urge the main belt guiding frame relatively to the support toward the coiling axis and the auxiliary belt guiding frame relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward the coiling axis so that such means maintain the belt means operative with respect to a coil being formed while permitting recession thereof away from the coiling axis due to pressure exerted by the growing coil, said means including a link in operative connection with the main frame to form a crank arm and in operative connection with crank means mounted on the support, and ilu-id pressure means connected to last said crank means.

3. A belt wrapper for use in coiling strip comprising a mandrel having a xed coiling axis, a ixed support, a main belt guiding frame movable toward and away from said axis carried by the support and having one of its ends pivotally mounted thereon above a horizontal plane through the coiling axis for generally horizontal swinging movement relatively to the coiling axis and extending below the coiling axis, an auxiliary belt guiding frame carried by the main belt guiding frame and pivotally mounted thereon adjacent the end below the coiling axis for movement relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward and away from the coiling axis generally opposite the main belt guiding frame, the frames carrying belt guiding pulleys, belt means trained about the pulleys, means including a lluid pressure cylinder operable to resiliently urge the main belt guiding frame relatively to the support toward the coiling axis and means including a fuid pressure cylinder operable to resiliently urge the auxiliary belt guiding frame relatively to the main belt guiding frame toward the coiling axis, whereby lbuilding up of a coil on the mandrel will swing said frames against the force applied by said moving means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 927,037 Goss July 6, 1909 1,282,236 Kenworthy Oct. 22, 1918 2,172,616 Klein Sept. 12, 1939 2,477,843 Wilson Aug. 2, 1949 2,699,904 Wood Jan. 18, 1955 

